Searches were carried out at 12 residential and 10 office properties linked to the former chief minister of Bihar.

A day after Income-Tax department raids on 22 properties linked to former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD party workers attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Patna. (Source: ANI)

A day after Income-Tax department raids on 22 properties linked to former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, RJD party workers attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Patna. Searches were carried out at 12 residential and 10 office properties linked to the former chief minister of Bihar. RJD is blaming the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for instigating a witch hunt against Lalu and family. In his reaction, senior BJP leader and former Dy CM of Bihar Sushil Modi told Times Now, “We will raise the issue with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.”

A tax official told the Indian Express that the searches and surveys were conducted a probe on the investment pattern in “shell companies”.

“We are carrying out the searches. The companies being probed are shell companies in which Lalu and his family members are directors or have some links.” the official added.

The tax department may invoke provisions of the Benami Transactions Act, 1988, which became operational last year. The action taken under this law will be over and above the legal proceedings under the Income Tax Act, 1961. Tax officials said the findings from the searches and surveys will be known only in the next few days, officials told The Indian Express.

RJD chief Prasad tweeted that he was “not scared at all” and will continue to fight “fascist forces”.